Millennials Can't Stop Working

How Millennials Ruined The Work/Life Balance (And How We Can Fix It)

Given the significant population of the workforce millennials are on track to comprise (a full 40% by 2020, and it only grows from there), it’s clear that this is a problem not just for people who don’t share the same outlook as millennials, but for the short-sighted, present-focused millennials themselves. The good news is that there’s always time, and there are a few things millennials (and employers) can do to restore a sense of balance.

Know What You're Asking For

When it comes to work/life balance, millennials are like McDonald’s customers demanding healthy food: We ask for it, but no one seems to order it. That’s because when we say we want “balance,” most of us really mean “flexibility.” If, for instance, we insist upon going to a concert one night, we want to be able to work from home the next morning while we shake off the cobwebs. That might be fine, but if millennials keep clamoring for “work/life balance,” we’re going to get more of the same, as employers currently know it and on their terms.

What Employers Can Do

For one thing, change up the flavor of your Kool-Aid. I worked at a place that offered everyone, even entry-level analysts, a ridiculous 25 days of paid time off (PTO). That’s great, but the collaborative office culture (so favored by millennials) mostly frowned upon taking it in large swaths. Instead of advertising work/life balance with PTO I’ll never use, do two things: 1) promote the flexibility we’re so hungry for, and 2) trust your millennials.

Most employees don’t need to be in their managers’ sightline to be productive anymore, and our nagging desire to integrate work and leisure means we do care about getting things done. Even if we’ll never concede to leaving work in the office at 5 p.m. sharp, you can help us create actual balance by giving us the freedom to compartmentalize our schedules (within reason, of course).

Create Boundaries

Maybe you’re a gunner who wants to climb the ladder quickly, or maybe you feel guilty about cutting work early for that kickball game. Either way, a lot of us feel compelled to be “in the office,” whether we actually are or not. While admirable, this is a recipe for burnout. Because we value team environments so much, it’s easy to fear being seen as the “defector” who failed to be a team player by not participating in an after-hours email brainstorming session. This doesn’t have to be the case. Set clear boundaries for when you’re on and when you’re off, and (if necessary) alter your work habits to abide by them. Unless you’re the POTUS, there is no job in the world so important that it genuinely commands your attention on vacation or after 8 p.m.

What Employers Can Do

Recharged employees are engaged employees, and employee engagement is key. When your millennials insist upon blending life and work into one big, gross smoothie, help them take a step back. First, set expectations. Millennials value transparency, so if you don’t expect them to be “on call” at all times, reinforce that. Second, encourage (or even require) time away. Demon-spawn positivity factory Upworthy, for example, requires all employees to take one real, by-God disconnected vacation per year. If that’s a little too ambitious, consider what some parts of the government do: They employ a “compressed work schedule,” which is where employees alter their hours so that every other week, they’re out of the office for an extra day. Finally, respect the boundaries we set for ourselves (provided we’re meeting our goals). Technology should be a tool, not a tether.

Work To Live, Don’t Live To Work

If you’re lucky enough to be in your dream job, where you’re creating the change you wish to see in the world, great. Otherwise, sometimes a job is just how you earn a living. That doesn’t mean it doesn’t matter or that you shouldn’t care, but few people will lie on their deathbeds celebrating their contributions to the accounting field. Instead, use the freedom you have by creating boundaries and taking advantage of flexibility to pursue your real passions. Bill Gates does a lot of good in the world nowadays, but he didn’t try to do that while at the same time building his company. You have your whole life to change the world, but you have to get up and earn a wage tomorrow.

What Employers Can Do

Even if you’re not in the business of improving the world one puppy dog and rainbow at a time, you can still encourage employees to do their part on their own time. My old employer set aside one day each year where the entire company took the day off to participate in charity projects. Others facilitate after-hours clubs and groups that do something similar. Your employees don’t necessarily need to change the world at work, but it doesn’t hurt for them to feel like they can do so through work.